OPC 40084-3 describes the interface between extruders as part of an extrusion line and manufacturing execution systems (MES) for data exchange. MES are used for collecting the information generated by extrusion lines at a central point for easier quality assurance and job and dataset management. The target of OPC 40084-3 is to provide a unique interface for extruders and MES from different manufacturers to ensure compatibility.

The following functionalities are covered:

• General information about the extruder (manufacturer, model, serial number…), current configuration and status of the extruder.
• Recipe management: Extruders store their configurations in so-called recipes. These include information on nominal process parameters (temperatures, dosing volumens …). OPC 40084-3 allows transferring datasets between extruders and MES for building a central repository of recipes.

Following functions are not included:

• Safety related signals like emergency stop
• Direct control of machine movements by the MES

This part of OPC 40084 deals with extruders as part of an extrusion line. The extrusion line as overall system is defined in OPC 40084-2.

Information models for its components (extruder, dies, winders…) are defined in the other parts.